Santorum Pleads For South Carolinians To Vote Their Conscience

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — Rick Santorum, who is tied for second but badly trailing former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney in the latest South Carolina polls, used a pre-debate speaking engagement in Myrtle Beach on Sunday to appeal, yet again, to social conservatives. 

During the South Carolina Faith and Freedom Coalition Prayer Breakfast, Santorum again railed against a growing theme in the Republican race he said has been perpetuated by the media — that conservatives should vote for Romney because of his seemingly inevitable nomination, though he doesn't necessarily identify as strongly with South Carolina's values. 

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"We have an opportunity for South Carolina to stand behind a candidate that has consistently, courageously, forcefully, publicly led the fight for the values of the people who are going to go to the polls," Santorum said. "The question is, will the people of South Carolina vote their conscience? Or will they let people who … don't speak our language tell them — tell you — who has the best chance of winning?"

Santorum, a staunch, unabashed Christian who has been trying to leverage his reputation as a bonafide social conservative to surge in South Carolina, has spent more time campaigning in the Palmetto State than any other candidate.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who is in line to finish no better than fourth in the state according to most polling, also addressed the crowd, using his allotted time to point out the difference between liberty and license in what he considers to be a society that is turning its back on its Christian values. 

Liberty, he said, provides freedom of belief, but license for any behavior, he said, is a vice, and not a virtue. 

While Santorum didn't directly go after any candidates by name, he did try to contrast his straightforward approach to Christian values in governance with a perceived timidity among others in the race. His comments were a direct hit on Romney's moderate approach.

"We even have people in our primary get up and say 'I believe life begins at conception,' as if it's an article of faith. It's not," Santorum said. It's a biological fact. We concede ground where we do not need to."

America, he said, has a "foundational" problem that goes beyond mere poor economic policy, that must be fixed. Referencing a recent interview in Boston, Santorum said he was told that the country needs an economic candidate, not a "Jesus candidate." 

"We always need a Jesus candidate," Santorum said, to loud applause. 

The Faith and Freedom Coalition will hold a debate kick-off event, including a forum at 3 p.m. Monday in Myrtle Beach. 

The Myrtle Beach debate will be held at 9 p.m. Monday, and will be televised by Fox News.